The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-20
MISS ESTMERE'S TELEGRAM.


road trains made most OF the noise that was
made there, bringing it with them and taking it
away with them, echoes and all. OF homemade
noise there was little except 1y-bnzzing in the
summer time and cockcrowing batimes; indeed.
you could hardly get enough of it in all Peter
out TO quicken that Was deaf because il
wouldn't hear. This acoustic disadvantage
no secret: the depot-master knew well that he
had 20 contend with it when he stepped
upon the platform OF his little box station and
sent forth his voice upon the frosty November
cir.
eKumpsy! Oh no! Kumpsyt Hullo. you
Kumpsy. Look here.'
But Kumpsy-a negro lad of fourteen years
did neither hear look here; he prodded
steadily mp the struggling street; twitch OF
muscle or gleam of eye gave out that he heard a
sound; conscious wrinkle of them all in the
baggy rear of his Shifting clothes creased
deeper broader for the quickened pulses beat
ing underneath.
'tI1l have TO go for him." said the depos-mas-
Ter; and swinging of on long strides, he comes
upon him. grabs him by the coat collar. and
gently shakes him up.
..Laws!'' cries the boy. "Is dat you, Mr..
Greenough7 Is done here befo' ef rs knowen
'twuz you. I heard calm, but I tort sho
huff il wor de debble hesef Folks looks pow
Kul ike III 0cSS days., no went uos iuuOGchtJp
IAN de ole one he look much alike ans
one Daddy say hs roarin' round dat depot wild
de new red paint onto he tail. an rs got go
de oder side mighty keerful, or rs get spas-
tered
'aOh, that is your beat is IT'D AS IL you did
mot half live around that depot You'd get
killed q dozen times week if those railroad
srains lived MP to their privileges"
s.Dem kyars is powful keerful O. me. Case
dey know lis in de habit o. kyars."
sfYou are not in the habit OF kilograms, are
your demanded the station master. sternly
'I'e clomb de poles an bune de gass-eye OUT
replied Kumpsy. briskly. "Dsy dom neber kick
back, like daddy say dey do"
1.-THE post in not the kicking part You step
into this ticket-ofice and I'll show it to you.
Don't touch anything, especially those little
brass buttons"
table. Mr. Greepoueh looked the other way.
and became very intent upon key that would
not &c the lock. kumpsy stlfened MP quite
rigid with obedience, but he bn,ton-holed his
eyes upce those little brass buttons till his
head SWAN with dizzy desire. and all the
rents Of his small being drew him to the
touch; his hand thrust itself out mechanically;
10 came nearer BY jerks till il closed upon the
brass button. At the fatal touch kumpsy
sprsng aloft while a series of great kicks came
1eaping out at all fours OF him, his mouth few
open with howl which seemed TO carry of the
top OF his head, as it tore its way through the
devastated cavity.
.aOh. rs dead! Oh. rs in glory hallelujah!
Oh, nanny, mammy!" he cried. with piercing
wall. dropping upon the floor, abjsct huddls
Of squirmlng humanity.
Sir. Grsenough lifted him up by the nape of his
neck and gently shook him into shape. Now
you what comes from making free with
telsgraphs; they Will knock the president of the
road endwiss If be doesn't obey orders. and you
have got to be good boy if you have anything
10 do wild telegraphs"
"Oh. Mr.. Greenoueh. rs neber hab noting
mo to do with telerraphs rs say my prayers
hope TO die-ebery time come TO pole"
NONSENSE said the man, sterniy. You
have got have something do with the teie-
graphs. Hero is dispatch for Miss Estmere,
and want you TO carry it out TO her"
''Oh, dassent" walled Kumpsy, falling upon
his bling knees and squirmng out his plead
ings, II dassent." Don't make me. Dss a
fnl lonesome road to Miss Mays. Oh, lawdy
massy! Dat place by de ole grabe yard and
der de pine darks Dey ain nobody good enough
TO cay de telegraph past dem, cos nobody dom
neber know wot dem telearapns gwiue fin on.
mex" cried the poor boy, rolling ND the whites
of his eyes and turning q greenish pale with
fright. For Kpmpsy now began to realize what
many o wiser man has never found ont-that
telegraph is a searching thing for sinful
deal with, and that carrying it any distance
would subject the bearer 10 electric shocks all
the wav.
The station-master was quick to turn the new
theory account. Motives for virtuous action
had never had a rank growth in Kumpss's mind
and this chance seeding was to be cultivated
with care.
''Kumpsy." he bsgan. solemnly. shat tele~
gram OF Miss Estnere's won't hurt you IS long
you keen going straight along the road, but if
you atop to climb trees to go fishing, then
oh. then-you will see what you will seel And
your poor nanny will feel awful to have you
used up all at once. and no pieces for the fu-
nerap
Here Kumpsy uttered a eroan which seemed
80 unjoiut all his members. Mr.. Greenough
went unheeding: sit won't take you two
hours, though you might ride Rags, If you like
that better than going afoot"
At the mention of Rags the boys distressed
face flashed out like reflector and his passing
groan iapsed into chuckling eurgle.
He. he! Rags can kick wusser'n a telegraph
Get 'em bote at it to oncst an darll be- needer
OBJ 'en nowhar! He, he!
Rses-a mule OF uncertain character. was.
like Kumpsy, unsalared attache of the rail-
road station A passing cattle train had left
him there sick and nigh to death. but he had
and had waved fat, to the verge of kicking, If,
indeed, he were not already over the brink of
that high accomplishment His intimates-
Kumpsy for ons-were not slow affirm that
they had more than once caught Rags with his |
hind hoofs in rnid air. practicing the fine art
i'm which mule must ever take precedence, and |
his master-'What piece of work is mani |
come hating off
Be this as it may Rags knew he was we'll off
that mule reduced in circumstances but |
sverss 70 labor, could find no more charming |
place OF residence than Peterout Here the |
fellowship of kindred minds to which the spirit /
sven OF mule is not insensible here, too. the |
Roodly sustenance OF the booy-for this kindly |
village lay chiefly ont of DOORS not much |
fenced in, and its garbage not hurried igno-
bly, out OF sight, but lay free TO the dews OF |
heaven and the sniff of hungry beast
EsThis intelligent animal. whose stronghold was |
standing still, was easily caught and equipped, |
the message in Its yellow enveep pinned |
inside the pocket OF me little darky. and away /
they rode-knight and steed-Kumpsy feeling |
that he could back Rags against the round /
world and all the occult forces thereof, and |
Ragsl-ah! who shall tell the thoughts OF |
mnlef
The doughty pair hardly ont of sight |
when Kumpsy's mother cane waddling down |